Synthetic Sphingosines with Sphingoid Bases other than C18

Mammalian cells contain mostly D-erythro sphingosines with C18 and C20 bases and a smaller amount with C16 bases. Some bacteria and fungi have predominantly C16 or even shorter sphingosine bases. C17 sphingosine bases are easily separated by reverse-phase HPLC and readily identified by mass spectrometry. They are also usually absent from, or present in low amounts in, natural systems reducing the need for background subtractions.¹

Reference:

1. A. Merrill, "Sphingolipid and Glycosphingolipid Metabolic Pathways in the Era of Sphingolipidomics" Chemical Reviews, Vol. 111 pp. 6387-6422, 2011